Spain to Offer Legal Immunity to Royal Family

Fri 4th Apr 2014

Friday's weekly cabinet meeting of the Spanish Government saw PM Mariano Rajoy approve a draft legislation which would effectively increase the legal protection afforded to certain members of the Royal Family.

Currently, members of the Spanish Royal Family are not extended any form of legal immunity, which requires them to appear in front of a civilian court if they are charged with any crime. This was loophole was written into the Spanish Constitution following the return to democracy in 1978, however the King himself is offered full legal immunity.

Should the new law be approved by the Spanish parliament, Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Lititzia will only have to answer to the Supreme Court - a privilege currently enjoyed by government ministers and members of parliament.

The proposals would not affect other members of the royal family, including Princess Cristina who recently appeared in front of a court in relation to tax evasion and money laundering charges against her husband, Inaki Urdangarin.

Spain's Minister for Justice, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, defended the decision to limit the new legal protections by saying that the queen's daughters are not as heavily involved in matters of the state as the queen, the crown prince and his wife.